Minister Gurung: Diversity in news service at RSS fosters federal spirit

Kathmandu: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has said the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) adopted diversity in news service, which he argued, would contribute to the federal spirit of the country.

Inaugurating the new additions at RSS- launch of news service in Maithili and Nepal Bhasa- at RSS central office, Kathmandu, on Sunday, Minister Gurung congratulated RSS for its performance that contributed to the Ministry’s 100-day targets.

‘RSS has been able to officially introduce two more languages- Maithili and Nepal Bhasha- in its service as per its objective for this year. It bears huge significance in the promotion and protection of languages in the multi-ethnic federal country, Nepal,’ Gurung observed.

It seems a general and little step for now, but the role it plays in the promotion of language and service to diversity is tremendous, he said, adding, ‘Additional languages at RSS is a beautiful, solid foundation for great reform.’

Moreover, the Spokesperson of the government viewed archiving language as also good practice for protection and research. Language should be protected through a collaboration of three-tier governments, according to him.

‘The present system is for equality in diversity and the rights to all and consolidation of the system. Federalism is to foster national unity. People’s participation in governance is ensured; people’s oversight on their representatives is expected much in this system,’ the Minister reminded, appreciating the RSS initiative of launching two more languages. It is a formal launch while RSS had begun it some days back.

Similarly, Minister Gurung stated that language and culture are society’s mirror and power, so the state mechanisms should reflect it accordingly. RSS’ works have finely aligned with it with the inclusion of Maithili and Nepal Bhasha in its services. He also reminded that other state media were also adding more languages to their services, thereby nurturing diversity.

‘Government is working actively and will show its works progress visibly,’ he shared, pledging protection of citizen’s right to information and freedom of expression because Nepal is a democratic system. He informed that the government was also committed to making Nepal an IT hub in South Asia with the adoption and promotion of smart health, smart education, smart agriculture, digital economy and digital literacy.

On the occasion, Secretary Radhika Aryal also appreciated the RSS initiative in a bid to establish itself as an inclusive media. It significantly plays its part in realizing federal principles, she observed. The Ministry is ready to cooperate with RSS for further reform and quality service.

Executive Chairman at RSS, Dharmendra Jha, expressed happiness over the formal launch of Maithili and Nepal Bhasa at RSS. ‘It is a proud moment for the entire RSS family that we have been able to embrace the 120-year-old Maithili journalism and 100-year-old Nepal Bhasa journalism,’ he said, extending special thanks to Minister Gurung for his continuous encouragement and to Secretary Aryal for her cooperation with RSS to realize the efforts.

‘We’re pleased to know that RSS works remained on the government’s priority list,’ he mentioned. Chairman Jha further said it was a milestone for RSS to introduce two more languages at once also because it is the first at RSS, while other state media had done it earlier.

‘If language is protected, media is protected, and if media is protected, language is also protected,’ he reminded, arguing that RSS’ works tremendously value federalism- the concept of holding together. Noted linguists and lingual experts on Maithili and Nepal Bhasa- Prof Dr Yogendra Yadav, and Suresh Kiran Manandhar, made remarks at the programme.

Similarly, RSS General Manager Siddha Raj Rai said RSS bridges the government and people by establishing and promoting citizen’s rights to information. ‘Along with the 24-hour news service, RSS has been adding new languages to its news in line with the words and spirit of the constitution,’ he shared.